Machine wrench



L. W. FALK MACHINE WRENCH June 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Filed Jan. 5, 1945 ATTORNEY INVENTOR Louis WI FaZK June 26, 1951 L. w. FALK 2,558,612

MACHINE WRENCH Filed Jan. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 57 38 /7 FIG 2 /7 52 I A f k- LL11 ;Q I

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g I z@ /4 22 49 12 INVENTOR. 46 I BY [.0 m5 W. FczlK I ATTORNEY.

Patented June 26, 1951 MACHINE WRENCH Louis W. Falk, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to The Falk Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 5, 1945, Serial No. 571,517

10 Claims.

This invention relates to machine wrenches.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine wrench particularly adapted for use with a torque loading device of the type disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 517,516, filed January 5, 1945, now Patent No. 2,433,510.

Another object is to provide an improved power operated wrench capable of applying a heavy torque to a rotatable element without imposing a radial load of any substantial magnitude thereon.

Another object is to provide an improved power operated wrench for effecting relative rotation between two elements both of which are rotatable.

Another object is to provide a power operated wrench capable of applying a load with minimum friction loss so that the motivating force applied thereto may constitute a true measure of the load applied thereby.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of a machine wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown applied to an adjustable coupling of a torque loading device.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing a part of the frame and cooperating shoe.

The machine wrench selected for illustration is shown applied to an adjustable coupling of the torque loading device disclosed in my above entitled copending application. The coupling shown comprises a ring I encircling and operatively connected to an end of a tubular shaft l I, and an abutting sleeve l2 encircling and operatively connected to an end of a shaft I3 that extends-loosely through the shaft II, In the torque loading device of said application the shafts II and [3 are operatively connected to opposite sides of a gear set so that by rotating the sleeve 12 relative to the ring I!) a torque load may be imposed upon the gear set. A series of clamp bolts I4 extending from a circular T-slot I5 in the ring In through an end flange 16 of the sleeve I2 serve to releasably fix the ring I!) to the sleeve l2, so as to maintain the torque 2 load thus imposed, both the ring In and sleeve I. being rotatable with the shafts II and 12 to permit operation of the gear set for test purposes while subjected to said torque load.

The machine wrench shown comprises a pair of side arms I! bolted or otherwise rigidly but detachably anchored to an intermediate connector member I8 to form a rigid frame adapted to partially embrace the coupling member above described. The member I3 may be replaced by others of different sizes so as to accommodate the frame to coupling members of various sizes. A heavy eye-bolt l9 resiliently mounted in the intermediate member l8 provides a convenient means for supporting the frame in the vertical operative position shown. In this instance each side arm I 1 includes an integral back plate 20 that extends laterally and also downwardly from a vertical web 2|, and a similarly shaped front plate 22 that is bolted or otherwise fixed to the web 2| and to spacers 23 carried by the back plate The plates 20 and 22 of each arm I! are parallel to each other and together form a channel for housing the operating parts of the wrench which will now be described.

In this instance two opposed racks 24 are provided each toothed, as at 25, for meshing en.- gagement with the externally toothed periphery of the coupling flange I6 at diametrically opposite points thereon. Each rack 24 is fixed by pins 26 or the like within the longitudinally slotted portion 21 of a carrier shank 2B guided for lengthwise movement between the plates 20 and 22 of each side arm l1.

One of the carrier shanks 28 is supported by a fluid actuated ram 29 working in and depending from a cylinder 30. The cylinder 30 is mounted in a socketed block 3| rockably sup ported by integral trunnions 32 journalled in the back and front plates 20 and 22 respectively'of one of the side arms l1.

The other of the carrier shanks 28 is supported by a tubular extension 33 of a cylinder '34 containing a fluid actuated ram 35 projecting downwardly therefrom. The ram 35 is seated upon and fixed to a block 36 rockably supported by integral trunnions 31 journalled in the back and front plates 20 and 22 of the other of the side arms IT. The tubular extension 33 is longitudinally slotted, as at 38, to snugly receive'lthe block 36 with which it cooperates to position and guide the cylinder 34. I

Mounted in .the manner above described, both carrier shanks 28 and the racks 24 carried thereby may be swung into and out of engagement with the coupling flange i6, and, when engaged with the flange 16, both racks 2e may be simultaneously actuated in opposite directions to rotate the flange by subjecting the upper ends of the cylinders 33 and 3 3 to fluid pressure through the pipes 39 and 40, respectively. In this connection it will be noted that, when fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 36, the ram 29 is actuated to lower the connected rack 24 and that, when fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder 34, the ram 35 reacts against the block 3? to elevate the cylinder 34 and extension 33 and thereby elevate the connected rack 34. The two racks 34 thus function to simultaneously apply two forces of equal magnitude but in opposite directions to the coupling flange it to rotate the same without imposing a radial load thereon.

It will also be noted that each shank 28 is also freely movable lengthwise so as to directly transmit without loss the full force of the motivating fluid to the connected rack 24, so that the pressure of that fluid is a true measure of the force transmitted from each rack to the coupling flange Provision is made for releasably maintaining both racks 24 in engagement with the flange it. In the wrench shown this is accomplished by the use of back-up rollers 41, one disposed behind each rack at a point opposite the zone of engagement of each with the coupling flange [6. Each roller 4| is shown mounted on an eccentric portion of a shaft 42 journalled in the back and front plates and 22 of each side arm ll. Any suitable means, such as a lever 53 keyed or otherwise detachably fixed to either end of the shaft 42, is provided to rotate the shaft and thereby advance or retract the associated roller 4!, and a detent 44 carried by the lever 43 and engageable in sockets 45 and 55 in the plate 2!? or 22 serves to releasably retain the associated roller 4| in advanced or retracted position.

Provision is made for interlocking the side arms I! of the frame with the coupling ring it so as to hold the latter against rotation when the coupling flange it is rotated by the racks 2t.

For this purpose the ring it is provided with a series of recesses 47 in the periphery thereof adapted to receive suitable shoes 48 carried by the frame. In this instance two opposed shoes 48 are provided, each being closely fitted in a notch 49 formed in the inner edge of a back plate 20 and detachably secured to the latter by a screw 50. The shoes 48 are arrangedto project into diametrically opposed recesses 41 in the ring Hi.

It will be noted that with the wrench applied in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, fluid pressure applied to the cylinders 3i] and Will effect simultaneous operation of the racks 2a in such directions as to rotate the coupling flange clockwise relative to the coupling ring Hi. To effect rotation of the flange it in a counterclockwise direction the wrench is removed and reversed, and the shoes 48 are reversed and transferred to the notches #39 in the front plates 22 of the side arms I? of the frame so that they may be in positions to engage the ring H3 in the reversed position of the wrench. In this reversedposition of the wrench the levers d3 are also preferably transferred to the other ends of the eccentric shafts 32 so as to provide for convenientmanipulation of the rollers ill in the ne position.

.Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described Without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In awrench for effecting relative rotation between two associated members, said wrench comprising a frame movable into and out of coacting relation with said members and havin means releasably engageable with one of said members to hold the same against rotation relative to said frame, means movably mounted on said frame for releasably engaging the other of said members, and means for actuating said last named means to effect rotation of said last mentioned member relative to said frame.

2. In a wrench for effecting relative rotation between two associated members, said wrench comprising a supporting frame movable into and out of coacting relation with said members, a set of coacting elements carried by said frame for releasably engaging one of said members, a second set of elements carried by said frame for releasably engaging the other of said members, and means carried by said frame for actuating one of said sets of elements to thereby effect rotation of one of said members relative to the other.

3. In a wrench for effecting relative rotation between two associated members, said wrench comprising a Supporting frame movable into and out of coacting relation with said members and having means for interlocking engagement with one of said members, a set of coacting elements movably mounted on said frame and engageable with the other of said members, and means carried by said frame for actuating said last named elements to effect rotation of said last named member relative to said frame.

4. In a device for effecting relative rotation between two associated members, said device comprising a supporting frame having means for releasably securing the same to one of said members, a pair of substantially parallel racks carried by said frame and engageable with the other of said members at diametrically opposite points thereon, and means carried by said frame for simultaneously actuating said racks in opposite directions to thereby rotate said last named member relative to said frame. 5. In a wrench the combination of a carrier frame movable into and out of coacting relation with the member to be rotated, a pair of substantially parallel opposed racks carried thereby for releasable engagement with said member, and means carried by said frame for simultaneously actuating said racks in opposite directions to thereby rotate said member.

6. In a device of the character described the combination of a portable frame, a pair of substantially parallel racks carried by said frame and relatively movable into and out of driving engagement with a member to be rotated at diametrically opposite points thereon, means for releasably retaining said racks in engagement with said member,-and means carried by said frame for simultaneously operating said racks in opposite directions to thereby rotate said member.

'7. In a device of the character described the combination of a portable frame, a pair of sub- .stantially parallel racks carried thereby for re- .leasable engagement with an independently supported rotary member at diametrically opposite points thereon, and fluid actuated means car ried by said frame-for simultaneously actuating said racks in opposite directions to thereby rotate said member. 9

8. In a device of the character described the combination with a substantially U-shaped portable frame comprising a connector member and a pair of spaced side arms detachably anchored thereto, of a pair of opposed racks each carried by one of said side arms for engagement with an element to be rotated, and means carried by each of said side arms for actuating the rack carried thereby.

9. In a Wrench, the combination of a frame movable into and out of coasting relation with a member to be rotated and having side portions spaced apart to admit said member therebetween, means movably mounted on said frame for driving engagement with said member, and means on said frame for actuating said last named means to thereby rotate said member relative to said frame.

10. In a device for effecting relative rotation between two relatively rotatable members, the combination of a frame having side portions spaced apart to admit said relatively rotatable members therebetween, means carried by said 6 side portions for interlocking engagement with one of said members to prevent relative rotation between the latter and said frame, and fluid actuated means carried by said frame for rotating the other of said members relative to said frame.

LOUIS W. FALK.

REFERENCES CITED" The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 12,165 Hendricks Nov. 3, 1903 175,564 Hull Apr. 4, 1876 425,397 Ballard Apr. 15, 1890 543,872 Kendall Aug. 6, 1895 675,466 Clark et al. June 4, 1901 904,314 Davis Nov. 1'7, 1908 1,216,456 James Feb. 20, 1917 1,288,966 Nielsen Dec. 24, 1918 1,318,568 Kittredge Oct. 14, 1919 2,225,249 Oakley Dec. 17, 1940 2,325,582 Anderson Aug. 3, 1943 

